ste_noni

 So, this is one of those things that has, optimistically, a 10% chance of actually happening, but it would be so cool if it did happen that I can't get it out of my head.  I"m hoping if I write it down here, I can go on and on without feeling too embarrassed and then forget about it.

Joe told me last night that there are three openings for Army officers in Brazil next summer.  One is in Brasilia (totally not interested, super boring capital filled with boring bureaucrats and interesting diplomats who you can't socialize with) and two are in Rio.  Of the ones in Rio, one of them is for an instructor at the school Joe graduated from when we were there!  

Now, there are a few reasons why Joe would be awesome at this job.  He speaks fluent Portuguese, he graduated from the school, and the Brazilian officers loved him.  Also, the school is in a great location (on the beach, right next to the Pao de Acucar).  Even though all our friends there are now living elsewhere, there's still a decent sized military/government/expat community in Rio, plus it's a really cool city.  And, we could afford a maid to clean the house probably every day!  And there's fresh mango and passion fruit juice on practically every corner!  And you don't have to drive because there is gret transportation and they deliver almost anything you buy!  We could take Ellie to the Amazon without spending a fortune and show her (and the baby) all sorts of cool things!  I have no idea if I could work or not (visa issues) but I'm sure I could find something to do.  

Now, here are the reasons why it won't happen.  Our current tour is technically 2 years long (that would be up next summer) but because they consider PR an overseas location, the Army wants us to stay for 3 years to get their money's worth out of moving us and all our stuff here.  This could be waived, but it's very easy for the decisionmakers to use it as a reason to say no.  Also, even though Joe was a really awesome "Foreign Area Officer", the Army really wanted him back in the operational world.  So, the foreign stuff is considered his secondary specialty, meaning that the Army could (and technically should) exhaust all their options with Portuguese speaking primary-foreign officers before looking to Joe.  But, there aren't that many Army officers that speak Portuguese well enough to actually teach classes and Joe is one of them (plus two of them will already be needed in country at the same time).

Seriously, I doubt it will happen.  The timing is off and that makes it hard.  But if anyone could make it happen, it would be my husband.  I've never met someone who was as talented as he is at convincing people to give him what he wants.  He is just kind, persistent, and sincere enough that it happens for him on a regular basis.  So, because of who he is, I can't totally just call this impossible.  Still, it almost certainly won't happen and I need to accept that.